Chapel Gives Homeless Hope

St. Laurence Doles Out Food, Counseling, Aid

Wearing blue slacks, an embroidered blouse, her makeup carefully applied, Maureen Reilly, 52, presents an image that gives no hint that she was once homeless.

When Reilly's motel business failed, she fell on hard times. With no place to go and nobody to help her, she became one of the more than 5,000 people estimated by the Broward County Homeless Coalition to be on the streets in Broward County.

A year ago, she was directed by an acquaintance to the St. Laurence Chapel, a nonprofit agency in Pompano Beach that serves the homeless. She is now the receptionist.

"I came here for help and I got it," she said.

The St. Laurence Chapel, 101 NE First St., was started in 1990. It operates from a cavernous space that was once an army surplus store. While it is not an overnight shelter, the chapel offers:

-- Breakfast, lunch and food packs.

-- A clothing exchange and shower facilities.

-- Social work counseling, therapy and nursing care.

-- Adult Basic Education and GED preparation.

-- AIDS education and outreach.

-- Worship services daily and Sunday.

-- Referral to community services.

-- Mobile medical clinic.

-- Voter registration and job readiness assistance.

-- Transportation.

Since Oct. 1, the Rev. Robert J. Vaughn, 45, has been the chapel's executive director. He has a degree in theology from Notre Dame and a master's in social work from Barry University. In 1990, he was ordained as an Episcopal deacon.

Wearing his many hats, Vaughn acts as a liaison between the local churches and the community.

"We serve three populations here," he said. "The majority are street people. A few are on the edge, in a pre-homeless situation. Some are post-homeless, who come for moral support."

St. Laurence Chapel is privately funded. The 1994 operating budget was $276,000. The approved budget for 1995 is $313,000.

"Fifty percent of our support comes from the Episcopal Diocese or individual parishes in Broward County," Vaughn said.

The balance comes from civic groups and other churches.

"It is a real interfaith effort," he added.

Since opening, the chapel has helped almost 5,300 homeless men, women and children. The shelter serves 100 to 120 meals a day.

Althea Lewis, 57, is a medical missionary. She has been the nurse at the chapel since March 1993. She receives no salary, only a cost-of-living stipend.

"I help people to take care of their health needs," she said. "Either a lack of motivation or a general disinterest prevents our clients from doing it themselves."

Lewis said society still carries old attitudes that the homeless are dirty nasty people.

"They are only people who need a hand up, not a hand-out," she said.

Vaughn said too often homeless people are the victims rather than the cause of crime.

There are no simple answers to the problems that plague the homeless.

"It's everything from self-esteem issues, to being downtrodden, to true addiction," Vaughn said. "Unfortunately, Broward County has too few detox and alcohol treatment centers."

Despite the ups and downs of daily life, Christmas is a time of celebration. There will be a party at St. Laurence with a hot meal and gifts.

"It may be a wrapped pair of socks, but everyone will get something," Vaughn said. "Right now we are trying to find an agency to bring in dinner."

Holidays are a stressful time, but more so for the homeless. Vaughn suggested that those who are fortunate take a moment to reflect on those whose luck is down.

"Especially during the holidays we should be more aware of the plight of the street people," he said. "We should show mercy."